Russia claims it hit a US-made Patriot air defense system, while Ukraine says it intercepted all missiles
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it destroyed a US-made Patriot air defense system in Kyiv in a missile strike this morning.
“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a concentrated strike with long-range air and sea-based high-precision weapons at the points of deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as at the places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment delivered from Western countries,” it said in a post on Telegram. “The goal of the strike has been reached. All assigned objects have been hit.”
However, Ukraine said it intercepted all 18 Russian missiles launched at the country in the early hours of Tuesday morning, including six Kinzhal missiles.
The Ukrainian military declined comment on the Russian claim.
Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson, Serhiy Ihnat, would only say, “We cannot comment on this. We’ll stay out of commenting on Russian sources.”
CNN has not seen any independent or verifiable evidence that a Patriot system was destroyed.
More background: Ukraine has received at least two Patriot systems, one from the United States and one from Germany, to enhance its air defenses. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has said they are critical to defend Ukrainian infrastructure against ballistic missiles.
Last week, two US officials told CNN that Russia had tried to destroy a US-made Patriot air defense system in Ukraine with a hypersonic missile on the night of May 4. That attack failed, and the Ukrainian military instead intercepted the missile using the Patriot system, the officials said.